Sea QTRO

EasyWalker QTRO review


Look at this QTRO. It's magnificent. It's the color of the sea.



From the back, you might think it is it's older sister, the Sky (reviewed previously on strollerqueen.com ). It has the same nice pockets on the back of the canopy, big basket, and 12" rear air tires with suspension. But this is where the changes begin. Starting with the two zippers on the sides of the basket, for much better access.


Now check it out from the front. It's got this great sun visor, and pivoting napper bar,

Really long leg rest, that adjusts to several positions,


And, TA DA! Two small front air tires, instead of one large one. I measure them as 8.5 inches.

That means it has a shorter wheel base. And it looks so stinkin' cute!


For average outdoor use, the smaller tires are fine. Because they are air, they are still quite rugged. And all four wheels have suspension.

The QTRO performed really well on the SQ Obstacle Course. Glided over bumps and cracks and grass and gravel, with two-fingered steering.


The seat is still very roomy, like the Sky. Although it tapers down, so it is narrower at the bottom. There is also an extra harness position on the QTRO. And the handle adjusts from low to average to high.

Really, I think the napper bar and legrest are the favorite features of SP 2.0. It is rare to find a stroller like this with a legrest that can adjust to several different positions. It must be comfortable for him, because every time he rides in it, he falls asleep.

The recline is done by zippers. And what is nice is that you can really adjust it to several levels. From bolt upright, to partial, to flat recline. The QTRO still comes in all the fabulous colors of the SKY, and has loads of brilliant accessories you can purchase separately. Pretty much anything for strollers you can think of, actually.


EasyWalker QTRO

Weight: 28 pds.

Width: 24"

Length: 33"

Height: 31" to 41"

Seat Width: 14"

Seat Depth: 9"-19""

Seat Back: 19"

Seat to Canopy: 27"

Drop to Footrest: 10"

Seat to Floor: 20"

Folded: 35" x 25" x 17" (w/out wheels)

I can help you find the perfect stroller for YOUR needs. Don't let a salesperson sell you a stroller that won't work for you! For more info on consultations, visit strollerqueen.com There are lots more reviews here, and info on how to get the 2010 BIG Stroller Roll-Out, an online video magazine of all the new stroller models. strollerqueen.com

Pompeii had no time to "Blink"

Britax Blink Review


I've always been fascinated by the story of Pompeii. The leisurely class, relaxing at their Romanesque stolen from Greek style marble villas, outside gazing at their fountains and gardens, or indoors at their magnificent murals and frescoes...when suddenly, a wave of molten lava roars down from Mt. Vesuvius, encasing men, women, children, dogs, art, and everyday household objects, under layers and layers of ash and pumice...It is not the gory details that interest me, it is the details of their lives and how they lived, forever frozen for 1700 years in bedrock tombs.

Mooing at Macy's

Britax Chaperone Stroller Review


Back to school shopping is such a letdown. It means the end of summer, and it always comes too soon. How could I make it more fun? By using the "Cowmoo" Chaperone! It's the latest stroller out by Britax, designed to match their popular infant car seat. With the big basket and snack tray, I thought it would make a good mall stroller.

The seat is spacious and comfy for long outings, and the canopy is pretty good. The wheels are pretty maneuverable, which means it steers well.


Be careful with your purse, though. If you throw it in like this, the basket collapses.

I tried it many times, and it never held up.


The fold is also a little odd. There is a center strap on the seat that you pull up, ala Baby Jogger. But unlike BJ, you also have to pull the snack tray up, and fold it back, first. But I guess the most important thing was SP 2.o enjoyed himself in it, which made shopping a log more bearable for all of us.

Britax Chaperone Stroller


Stats:
Weight: 27.5 pounds
Width: 22”
Length: 29”
Height: 36”-43”
Seat to Floor: 18”
Seat Back: 20”
Seat to Canopy: 25”
Seat Width: 13”
Depth: 17”
Folded: 35 x 22” x 21”


I can help you find the perfect stroller for YOUR needs. Don't let a salesperson sell you a stroller that won't work for you! For more info on consultations, visit strollerqueen.com There are lots more reviews here, and info on how to get the 2010 BIG Stroller Roll-Out, an online magazine of all the new stroller models. strollerqueen.com

Mutsy 4 Rider and the Mansion, Partie Deux

Mutsy 4 Rider Joey Seat Fun Seat Review



I don't know what it is about the Mutsys and Beverly Hills mansion, but they just seem to go hand in hand. So when we was invited to an all day, and into the evening pool party, the 4 Rider with Joey seat AND Fun seat seemed like the best choice. Why? Aside from the fact that is strikingly beautiful, elegant, and well-made?


Well for one thing, the Fun Seat comes with a HUGE basket, and even HUGER optional beach bag. I could fit all of our clothes, towels, bags, bottles, toys, with no problem. As you can see, the seat on the Fun seat is a hard plastic. So if a baby in a wet swim suit is sitting there, who cares?

There is also some sort of steering apparatus that turns back and forth, to help keep them occupied. The seat sits up high, and is very open. So no obstruction of a view. And the flat Euro canopy (not sold in the US) was perfect to keep the sun at bay. You can adjust it in so many ways. Oh, the seat has a nice 5-point harness, too, so no worries about falling.

Now, a lot of tall people complain that many stroller handles are too short for them. Check this out! Look at the Lion. I have the handle first in the shortest position.

Then I just pull it out to the highest. Tall, tall, tall! This means it is also great for their optional riding board.

I would say these big air tires are a little wasted in this environment. They are just crying out to plow through snow! But, the other main reason the 4-Rider was my choice today, was the ability to switch seats! How many strollers can you say THAT about? After the swim, I knew SP 2.0 would be wanting a nap.

The Fun seat doesn't recline, so voila! Pop it off and switch it to the Joey seat! (There are other "regular" seats available, or a bassinette for a little baby.) This has a wonderful canopy, thick fabric napper bar, flat recline, and a looong leg rest. SO comfy for sleeping!

And if baby wants a snack, you can even add the large "Dinner Tray." 

Mutsy 4RIDER

Stats (chassis only):
Weight: 25 pounds
Width: 26”
Length: 29”
Height: 38”-45”
Seat from ground:
Fun Seat:
Weight: 11 pounds

High on the ION

A famous verse in Ecclesiastes says: "There is nothing new under the sun." And so it was true in biblical times, so it is in the world of strollers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But leave it to the family-owned company Valco, who's always tryin', to develop the Ion. 

Stroller Sweepstakes!

It's the Dog Days of summer, and I can think of no better pick me up than a new stroller. Alright, there is ONE thing better, and that is, a FREE stroller! And a good one at that! Click on this link to win to win a Toro, Dash, Cam, or Xplory! http://www.bel-bambini.com/sweepstakes/










I can help you find the perfect stroller for YOUR needs. Don't let a salesperson sell you a stroller that won't work for you! For more info on consultations, visit strollerqueen.com There are lots more reviews here, and info on how to get the 2009 BIG Stroller Roll-Out, an online magazine of all the new stroller models. strollerqueen.com

Joovy Kooper Review

4th of July Joovy Kooper!


For years, we have done holiday strollers. And of course, the 4th of July is easy. Only requirement is that it is red, white and blue, and really fun to push! And there you have the Joovy Kooper (with a

Joovy Kooper and Valco Buggster Comparison

The new Joovy Kooper has been compared to the Valco Buggster. It's fair; in fact, in Oz the Joovy Kooper is known as the Valco Prism! (And the Valco Buggster is now the TFK Buggster! Clear as a dark mesh canopy window? ;)

But how close are they, really? Let's take a look:

The oval shape is certainly similar. And both have extremely wide seats. Although nothing can compare to the Buggster's astonishing 18"; certainly big enough for me to ride around in! ;) They are both umbrella strollers with fairly deep reclines, and huge canopies. And both have a very modern look. But the comparison ends here.
You can start to see how different they look from the back. The Kooper has ergo, foam covered handles that turn in, while the Buggster's are straight up with hard plastic finger grips. The Kooper has two cupholders, and a zippered canopy pocket. It has a good sized basket, though not as big as the Buggster's. The Kooper has the new red brakes. Some people don't care for them aesthetically, but countries such as Australia now require them for safety. The fold on the Kooper is very straightforward, and on the Buggster it is much more fiddly. Although there are several versions of the fold on the Buggster, and some are easier than others.

The Buggster comes loaded with accessories, including a mesh seat pad, front napper bar, boot, sun cover, and rain cover. The Kooper has the aforementioned built-in canopy pockets, side net pockets in the seat, and glow in the dark shoulder harnesses and logo.
Here you can see the difference in the width. The Buggster is nearly 4" wider. But the length is where they really differ, due to the 3 wheels of the Buggster vs. the 4 wheels of the Kooper. 3 wheelers always have to be longer for stability, and in the Buggster's case, it is nearly 9" longer!

Both have a roomy 24" canopy clearance, although the Buggster's seatback is 2" taller. The Kooper folds much smaller than the Buggster, but longer. See the chart below for even more measurements.

Joovy Kooper Valco Buggster

Weight: 17. 5 pds. 18.5 pds.

Width: 21" 23 1/4"

Length: 26.5" 34"

Height: 40 1/4" 40.5"

Seat Width: 15" 18"

Seat Depth: 8" 9"

Seat Height: 18" 20"

Seat to Canopy: 24" 24"

Drop to Footrest: 11" 13"

Seat to Floor: 16" 16"

Folded: 46" x 13" x 12" 31" x 22 x 25"

2009 Stroller Previews

If you would like to see all of the 2009 models, check out our annual "Big Stroller Roll-Out! Just hit the "pay now" button, and you will get the passwords to this comprehensive online magazine, within 24 hours. You will be charged $7.50.

You can also go to: paypal.com and enter $7.50 to:

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Cybex is coming to America!

I was at their product launch today. And guess who their new distributor
is....drumrolll....Regal Lager! They were looking for a full line since they
parted ways with Phil and Ted's. Cybex has front carriers, and the most AMAZING
car seats! They are rated number one for safety in Europe. And of course, Cybex
has strollers...four different ones. The first one is similar to the Mac
Triumph, then they go up in features. With deeper reclines, bigger canopies,
bigger wheels, and front napper bars. The wheels have some wicked suspension.

There is a really nice, feather light (seriously, not hyperbole, the lightest I have ever picked up) carrycot that goes with the top of the line model. But unfortunately, the carrycot has to go
in the seat completely reclined. And flat reclines can't be sold in the US
unless they have those god-awful head curb things. They also have this really
cool line of cloth diapers and covers, and other baby care products. I took a
lot of pictures, and I will post them with more details in the upcoming days.
But, the car seats just blow everything else out of the water that's out there.
Except, they only have the infant seat, and a high back booster. So I'll still be
using the Maxi Cosi whe I switch over to a convertible, which will be soon. I
wish those infant seats were available right now! The booster seat has the best
side impact protection on the market. Really plush and nice. They have two layers of thick side impact support. One folds under when the child wants to nap, so it reclines the seat a bit, and pushes the "wings" out. The wings, though, are more like the thick sides of a padded armchair.

Oh, and the harnesses on the strollers are the same as the car seat! So you just push this
button to make the straps looser or tighter! Now why someone else hasn't thought
of that one sooner...I also like the fit and finish on all of the products. I
didn't notice any gloppy welds or fraying fabric or crooked seams. You can see that a lot of thought went into the design; where they place the rivets, the shape of the frame, the quality of the fabrics...I think if they catch on with the celeb crowd, they could be a big hit in that genre. Otherwise, they are similar to Macs in a lot of ways, although the canopies are fuller, and the reclines are deeper. And I do think the way the harness adjusts is really nifty! Oh, and the recline is somewhat easier than Macs, too. It has one lever in the back, and it is very smooth.. The sale dates of the products will be staggered, starting with the
strollers in August.

http://cybex-online.com/site/uk/products/pushchairs/callisto.html



I can help you find the perfect stroller for YOUR needs. Don't let a salesperson sell you a stroller that won't work for you! For more info on consultations, visit strollerqueen.com There are lots more reviews here, and info on how to get the 2009 BIG Stroller Roll-Out, an online magazine of all the new stroller models. strollerqueen.com

Joovy Ergo Caboose Review

Joovy Ergo Caboose

Ergo, St. Patrick’s Day Boys
Long before Stroller Prince 2.0 made his way into this world, we felt like somebody was missing. My friend Catherine felt the same way. And so we were all overjoyed when her son made his grand entrance on March 17th. Now she was considering names. “Oh, that’s a no-brainer”, I said. “Call him Patrick.” “No”, she said. “But, he was born on St. Parick’s Day, you have to!” I implore. “No”, she says. “Well”, I grumble, “If *I* ever have a boy on St. Patrick’s Day, I shall name him Patrick. And I did, and I did, or a variation thereof, heehee.

Strollerqueen.com

I can help you find the perfect stroller for YOUR needs. Don't let a salesperson sell you a stroller that won't work for you! For more info on consultations, visit strollerqueen.com There are lots more reviews here, and info on how to get the 2009 BIG Stroller Roll-Out, an online magazine of all the new stroller models strollerqueen.com

Maxi Cosi Loola Review

The Loola on the Pier

Dave Price of the CBS Early Show wanted to see a jungle of strollers. And that's what he got. The crew came and oohed and aahed my collection. But which was the one that really caught their eye? The Maxi Cosi Loola, formerly known as the BebeConfort Loola.

For years, we in Strollerland were forced to import this French beauty from Europe. And we paid a pretty penny to ship her over. But as you can see, she's worth it. So, beautiful day on the beautiful Pacific, for my beautiful daughter's birthday...yep, choose the most beautiful stroller. And it was only a coincidence that the vibrant aqua and turquoise of the "ChocoMint" matched the sea. The handles are not height adjustable, but you can rotate them in, for a more comfy push.

The Loola is a rare beast; it's a reversible umbrella stroller. The seat is very easy to reverse. It just pops on and pops off. One nice thing is that you can fold it in one piece, with the seat in either direction. And the fold is much more compact than on most reversibles. It stands alone when folded.











The wicked shocks made the Loola's performance on the bumpy pier a lot better than the small wheels would have suggested. It's small size allowed it to zip around the crowds, without running anyone down. The full canopy made it a pretty good choice for the sun. The plush fabrics and deep recline made a very cozy bed for SP 2.0. So all things considered, the Loola is not a bad choice for a full day outing.




But since it was a birthday party, with lots of pre-teen girls, SP 2.0 spent most of it being passed around.













So the Loola pulled a double duty carrying the birthday presents. You can load an awful lot onto this stroller, with no fear of it tipping. It is very solid. Another really nice feature is that you can lock the front swivel wheels into a fixed position, without bending down. The wheel locks are little switches up by the handles!



Oh, there's SP 2.0, surveying the waves!

At the end of the day, he did take a nice long nap.
The seat pad is reversible and washable. And not that we needed it this day, but the Loola does come with a rain cover.  Maxi-Cosi Loola Stroller
Weight: 28 pounds
Seat Width: 12"
Seat Back: 20"
Seat to Canopy: 22"
Width: 24"
Length: 28"
Floor to Seat: 21"
Handle Height: 37.5"

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Cheers!

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